How to Make Stawberry Wine

Use fresh strawberries when making wine.

Strawberry wine is a delicate and refreshing alternative to wine made with grapes. It has a mild semi-sweet flavor that can appeal to a wide variety of palettes. Drink strawberry wine on its own or add it to your favorite fruit punch recipe. Prepare strawberry wine in the summer when berries are in season and bottle for year-round enjoyment. Pick your own strawberries for the freshest and sweetest strawberry wine. Learn how to make strawberry wine at home with a few basic ingredients.

Things You'll Need

• 6 lbs. fresh strawberries
• 1 large heatproof bowl
• 2 gallons water
• 5 lbs. sugar
• 4 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. wine yeast
• 1 tsp. grape tannin
• 1 fine sieve
• 1 large towel
• 8 wine bottles (empty)

Instructions

1. Wipe strawberries with a paper towel, making sure to remove all dirt. Place strawberries in a colander and rinse with cold water. Pat strawberries dry with a paper towel. Slice off stems with a paring knife. Coarsely chop strawberries into smaller pieces. Place strawberries into a large bowl and crush with potato masher.

2. Boil 2 gallons of water. Pour the hot water over strawberries in bowl. Add the sugar and lemon juice and stir mixture with a wooden spoon. Cover bowl with the towel and let sit overnight.

3. Add the wine yeast and grape tannin the following day. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon. Cover bowl with the towel and let sit for seven days, stirring once each day.

4. Scoop out the strawberry pulp with a sieve and discard. Re-cover bowl with the towel and let sit in a cool dry place for 30 days.

5. Scoop out any remaining strawberry pulp with the sieve after 30 days and discard. Pour mixture into the wine bottles. Place bottles on a wine rack and let age for three to six months. Drink and enjoy your strawberry wine once the aging process is complete.

Tips & Warnings

• Age wine for six to twelve months to improve the flavor.

• Try wild strawberries for a more intense flavor.

References

• Strawberry Plants: Strawberry Wine Recipe
• "Wine Maker"; Take a Sip of Strawberries; Ed Kraus; 2000